Q: I have a .458 Lott and am looking for load data for 325gn bullets (powder and charge weights) to handload, but I am having difficulty finding any load data anywhere for Australian powders for this particular combination of cartridge and bullet weight.
Would you have any information about the power type and the charge weight I could use in the Lott?
Jarrah
A: I gleaned the following loads from a number of different sources:
- 300gn Barnes, 75gn AR2207, 2768fps (claimed to be “mild and accurate”);
- 300gn bullet, 85gn AR2207, 2950fps;
- 350gn Hornady bullet, 79gn AR2207, 2650fps;
- 400gn bullet, 85gn AR2207, 2670fps;
- 465gn A-Square, 83gn AR2206H, 2349fps.
These loads come from several different sources so I can’t really recommend them or be responsible for their use. However, you may be able to do something with them.
It appears that an increase of seven or eight grains of powder in this big .45-calibre doesn’t give much of an increase in muzzle velocity.
Most of the articles I’ve read about the .458 Lott concentrate on heavy bullets for dangerous game, not varmint loads.
Who in their right mind would want to shoot a 300-400 gn projectile in the 2600 fps range ? To each their own, but I reckon it would kill both ends.